Mary, mother of Jesus
First-century Jewish woman, mother of Jesus, venerated across multiple faiths.
Luka Borovik · Public domain
Mary was a Jewish woman from Nazareth who lived in the first century. She was married to Joseph and became the mother of Jesus. Within Christianity, she is a central figure honored with many titles, including virgin and queen—several of these appear in the Litany of Loreto. In Islam, she holds the highest status among all women and is frequently referenced in the Quran, which includes a chapter named after her. She is also respected in the Baháʼí and Druze traditions.
The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John all identify Mary as Jesus’ mother. According to Matthew and Luke, she was a virgin chosen by God to conceive Jesus through the Holy Spirit. She gave birth to him in Bethlehem, then raised him with Joseph in Nazareth. She was present at his crucifixion in Jerusalem and remained with the apostles before his ascension. The Bible does not describe the end of her life, but Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and some Oriental Orthodox and Protestant traditions hold that her body was taken into heaven—called the Assumption in Western Christianity and the Dormition in Eastern Christianity.
Mary has been venerated since early Christian times and is often regarded as the holiest and greatest saint. Christian traditions vary in their Mariology and devotional practices. The Catholic Church and some Oriental Orthodox Churches teach distinctive dogmas about her, such as the Immaculate Conception and her bodily assumption. Other denominations treat these as doctrines or traditions. Many Protestants view Mary’s role in ways they believe align with Scripture. Lutheran confessions affirm the virgin birth, the title Theotokos, and her perpetual virginity.
Marian devotions include prayers, hymns, feast days, veneration of images and relics, churches dedicated to her, and pilgrimages to shrines. Believers have reported numerous apparitions and miracles attributed to her intercession. She has been a frequent subject in art, especially in Byzantine, medieval, and Renaissance works.
Her name in the New Testament’s original manuscripts comes from the Hebrew *Miryam*, rendered as Maryam or Mariam. The English name Mary derives from the Greek Μαρία, a shortened form of Μαριάμ; both forms appear in the New Testament.
In Christianity, she is commonly called the Virgin Mary, based on the belief that the Holy Spirit impregnated her without sexual relations with Joseph, “until her s
- born
- First century, Nazareth
- field
- Religion
- nationality
- Jewish
- known_for
- Mother of Jesus; venerated as Virgin Mary, Mother of God, Theotokos; highest-ranking woman in Islam
Quick Facts
- Birth Place
- Herodian Judea
- Death Date
- After c. 33 AD
- Death Place
- Jerusalem, Province of Judaea, Roman Empire / or Ephesus, Province of Asia, Roman Empire
- Spouse
- Joseph
- Children
- Jesus
- Parents
- Joachim and Anne (according to some apocryphal writings)The Protoevangelium of James presents Mary’s parents as Joachim and Anne, but this claim is generally rejected in contemporary scholarship.
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
All four canonical Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—name Mary as the mother of Jesus. The gospels of Matthew and Luke describe Mary as a virgin who was chosen by God to conceive Jesus through the Holy Spirit. After giving birth to Jesus in Bethlehem, she and her husband Joseph raised him in the city of Nazareth in Galilee, and she was in Jerusalem at his crucifixion and with the apostles before his ascension. Although the end of her life is not described in the Bible, Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and some Oriental Orthodox and Protestant traditions believe that her body was raised into heaven at the end of her earthly life, known in Western Christianity as the Assumption of Mary and in Eastern Christianity as the Dormition of the Mother of God. The earliest named reference to Mary in the New Testament is in Mark 6:3, where she is called 'the mother of Jesus,' or in Matthew 1:18, which names her directly.
Reader's Guide
Mary has been venerated since early Christianity and is often considered the holiest and greatest saint. The Catholic Church and some Oriental Orthodox Churches hold distinctive Marian dogmas, namely her Immaculate Conception and her bodily assumption into heaven, while other denominations hold Marian beliefs as doctrines or traditions. Many Protestants hold various views of Mary's role that they perceive as being in accordance with the Scriptures. The Confessions of the Lutheran Churches have taught the virgin birth, Theotokos, and perpetual virginity. The multiple forms of Marian devotions include various prayers and hymns, the celebration of several Marian feast days in liturgy, the veneration of images and relics, the construction of churches dedicated to her and pilgrimages to Marian shrines. Many Marian apparitions and miracles attributed to her intercession have been reported by believers over the centuries. She has been a traditional subject in arts, notably in Byzantine art, medieval art and Renaissance art. In Islam, Mary is known as Maryam, mother of Isa, and is often referred to by the honorific title 'Sayyidatuna', meaning 'Our Lady'. She is also called 'Siddiqah', 'Qānitah', and 'Tahira'.
Did You Know?
- Mary's name in the original New Testament manuscripts was based on the Hebrew name מרים (Miryam), transliterated as Maryam or Mariam.
- The title 'queen of heaven' had previously been used as an epithet for goddesses such as Isis or Ishtar.
- In the Quran, Mary is described both as 'the daughter of Imran' and 'the sister of Aaron' and Moses, alluding to Miriam from the Hebrew Bible.
- The earliest New Testament account of Mary is in the epistle to the Galatians, where she is referred to as 'a woman' and is not named.
Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Mary, mother of Jesus?
Mary was a first-century Jewish woman from Nazareth who, according to the Gospels, became the mother of Jesus while married to Joseph. She is one of the most widely venerated figures in religious history, honored in Christianity, Islam, and several other faith traditions.
What titles is Mary known by in Christianity?
Within Christian tradition, Mary is revered under numerous titles such as Virgin Mary, Mother of God (Theotokos), and Queen, many of which are recited in the Litany of Loreto. The Gospels of Matthew and Luke describe her as a virgin selected by God to bear Jesus.
How is Mary regarded in Islam?
In Islamic belief, Mary holds the highest rank among all women and is mentioned more frequently in the Quran than any other female figure. The Quran even dedicates an entire chapter, Surah Maryam, to her story.
What do we know about Mary's life and background?
Historical records place Mary as a Jewish woman living in first-century Nazareth, married to Joseph. Beyond the biblical and Quranic narratives, very little concrete historical detail about her daily life, extended family, or later years survives.
Why is Mary significant across multiple religions?
Mary's importance extends across Christianity, Islam, the Baháʼí Faith, and Druze traditions, making her one of the few figures universally respected within the Abrahamic religious family. Her role as the mother of a prophetic or divine figure gives her a unique bridging position among these faiths.
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